Many people love the sun, and love having a golden suntan even more. However, exposure to the sun can cause real problems for your skin, especially as you get older.
The most well-known risk associated with too much exposure to the sun is skin cancer. Failing to wear sun lotion and cover up in the sun can increase your risk of developing melanoma, a potentially fatal type of skin cancer.
People often think that a glowing tan makes them look healthier, but it can actually speed up the effects of ageing in the skin. The sun’s UV rays can damage the elastin fibres in the skin, causing it to sag, stretch and generally lose its firmness and elasticity.
The sun can also cause age spots and wrinkles to appear, as well as other imperfections such as:
• Discoloured areas of the skin, known as mottled pigmentation
• Sallowness – this is a kind of yellow discoloration of the skin
• Dilated blood vessels under the skin (known as Telangiectasias)
It is always best to try to avoid these kinds of skin damage by following expert health advice and avoiding too much exposure to the sun. However, for some people who were not aware of the dangers of the sun or who ignored safe sun advice, the damage may already be done.
Luckily, you can now use laser treatment as a way to rejuvenate your skin and reduce the appearance of sun damage.
